Larkin gets the call to the Hall

 
Congratulations to Barry Larkin - the only player chosen by the Writers to be elected to the BBHOF this year!  If you read my predictions/picks for the Hall, you are well aware of just how badly I did compared to the Big Boys. Ah well, I think Larkin deserves the nod.  He was certainly one of my favorite players during my earlier collecting years. That is, before I dropped out and then dropped back in again.

Travis Jackson comes to mind

I live in southern Arkansas (or Lower Arkansas, aka LA), and for a time drove through Waldo, Arkansas, on my way to work every day.  At the time, I was a computer tech for Southern Arkansas University.  When coming back home after work, there was sign that always caught my attention:

I passed by that sign every workday.  I meant to look into who Jackson was, but never seemed to remember by the time I got home.  The sign is long gone now.  For no known reason I can come up with, Jackson's name popped in my head today.  And, so, I Googled him.

According to BBHOF:

Travis Jackson was the hustling captain and clutch-hitting shortstop on John McGraw's Giants teams of the 1920s, playing through the mid-1930s. His outstanding arm, exceptional range and quick release earned him great respect in the field. Nicknamed Stonewall, after the Civil War general and for the wall of defense he supplied at shortstop, he also hit 135 home runs and compiled six .300-or-higher seasons at the plate. Rogers Hornsby praised Jackson by saying, "In all the years I watched him, playing with him and against him, I never saw him make a mistake."

He was so good at stopping the ball, he was actually given the nickname "Stonewall."  Nice!

I did not know that he passed away in 1987 until I started looking in to his information.  That's at least three years before I came to Arkansas.  He was inducted in 1982, five years before his passing.  I would have liked to have met him.

After checking out Jackson, I decided to see what other Arkansans are in the BBHOF.  Turns out, there are at least SEVEN members with Arkansas ties!  How cool!

Bill Dickey, Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Brooks Robinson, George Kell, and "Arky" Vaughan round out the rest of the boys from Arkansas.

Jackson was born in Waldo and he died in Waldo.  Between the two, he managed to set himself apart from other baseball players during the "Roaring 20's" playing for the NY Giants.  That's a pretty good life in my book.

2012 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot/thoughts

This is my first foray into picking HOFer, er potential ones anyway, as a member of the BBA.  I will probably match many of my fellow bloggers on most things, given the players listed for 2012.  But, if you've been reading along at all, you know I have some pretty weird quirks and I'm sure some of those will find their way into my decision making.  My criteria for choosing certain players hinges on one thing - do I think the player is "Hall-worthy."

And, before we get started, let's just clear something up right here: The late-great players that have been in the Hall since its inception (not all, I know!) have been boozers, potheads, schizos, womanizers, whatever.  As I read on another post, I'm not looking for players that helped old ladies across the street (though that helps in my book), but players who should be listed in the Hall because they deserve to in the Hall of FAME.  Are they baseball-famous?  Would a sports fan, possibly even a casual one, know who this person is due to their contribution to baseball?  Infamy can work just as well as fame. Well, maybe. Sometimes not so much.

Naturally, these are not sorted in any form or fashion. However, I will list my top 5 or 10 or whatever at the end.

Barry Larkin - One of my favorite players during the height of my early collecting years. HOFer? Maybe. He's a cusp vote in my book. Vote: MAYBE

Jack Morris - Another cusp vote. Hard to say outright, but with the other names on here, I don't see him making it. Fair or not, that's the way it happens. Vote: MAYBE

Juan Gonzalez - How is he not already in? Seriously. He'd get a yes from me. Vote: YES

Lee Smith - Without looking up any numbers whatsoever, I don't recall much about Smith. I'll say no based on that alone. Vote: NO

Jeff Bagwell - Of course. Bagwell, for me, is synonymous with the Astros and a name that stands out among the others. Er, well, some of the others. Enough to get my vote. Vote: YES

Tim Raines - How is he not already in? Yes, it is time to put Tim Raines in the HOF. Vote: YES

Edgar Martinez - Mariners perennial. As soon as I see the name, I think of a kickin' 3rd baseman that I watched play for many years. A career Seattle player that ought to be in the Hall. Vote: YES

Alan Trammell - I know the name instantly. Is he Hall-worthy, though? Not that I can think of. Maybe his numbers say something else, but not off the top of my head. Vote: NO

Larry Walker - Like Trammel, I know the name, but can't see him in the Hall. Sorry, guy. Vote: NO

Mark McGwire - Ah, the steroids poster boy. Here's the thing: Pete Rose is booted for life because he got caught betting on baseball, as a MANAGER. McGwire used 'roids as a PLAYER. The "Pete Rose Barometer" needs to be abolished. He and Sosa should be in Hall. Period. Steroids or not, a player still has to hit a ball coming at them at 95+ miles per hour. Steroids or not, I can't do it. Can you? Oh, I know, the argument is more about the distance, power, etc.  Whatever. You could walk up to just about anyone on the street and mention his name and people will know who he is. Vote: YES

Fred McGriff - The Crime Dog!  Of course he goes in the Hall!  DUH! Vote: YES

Don Mattingly - How in the heck is DON "FREAKIN" MATTINGLY not already in the baseball Hall of Fame!?  Seriously.  Don Mattingly!?  Hello, people! Vote: YES

Dale Murphy - Refer to comment above.  It is DALE "FREAKIN" MURPHY here, folks!  Come on. How do people like Murphy not get into the Hall on the first ballot!?  The system, my friends, is broken.  Vote: YES

Rafael Palmeiro - Ah, yes, another 'besmirching' name for the Hall.  Like McGwire, I would venture that even non-fans know his name, probably would say he was an Oriole (without even knowing who the Orioles were), and would say, "Isn't he in the Hall with Babe Ruth?" Well, okay, maybe a stretch there at the last, but you get my point. Vote: YES

Bernie Williams - I could see him in. I could see him not in. Another cusp player for me. Vote: MAYBE

Vinny Castilla - Probably not. I have no reason other than my gut telling me no. Vote: NO

Javy Lopez - I don't know why, but I think he should be in there.  For me, Javy is one of those players that immediately brings baseball to mind. And for that alone, I'll say yes. Vote: YES

Ruben Sierra - Meh. Like several others, I know the name but very little about his career or his contributions to baseball as a whole.  For that, I say maybe. Vote: MAYBE

Jeromy Burnitz - I can't think of why he would be in the Hall. Vote: NO

Tim Salmon - Nothing jumps out at me here. Vote: NO

Tony Womack - Never heard of him. Vote: NO

Phil Nevin - I actually thought he was a pitcher. Turns out he was an infielder. There's all I need to vote. I didn't remember anything about him. Vote: NO

Brian Jordan - Okay, another name that rings no bells whatsoever. Vote: NO

Eric Young - Hmmm... Trying to recall... Nope. Nada. Sorry, man. Vote: NO

Bill Mueller - Again, nothing rings a bell.  In fact, I'm starting to get cobwebs up there. Vote: NO

Terry Mulholland - Ah, pitcher. A name I know. Not sure Hall-worthy, though. He's probably cusp for me at best. Vote: MAYBE

Brad Radke - Another name I know, but not sure if he is Hall material.  Let him ride the fence. Vote: MAYBE

So, let me review my picks (in order of appearance, not my voting order):
Juan Gonzalez, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Edgar Martinez, Mark McGwire, Fred McGriff, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro, Javy Lopez

And now, let's put them in order of my vote:
Dale Murphy
Don Mattingly
Jeff Bagwell
Juan Gonzalez
Edgar Martinez
Tim Raines
Javy Lopez
Fred McGriff
Rafael Palmeiro
Mark McGwire

And, lookie there, I ended up with exactly ten names. Without even trying.  I guess things just have a way or working out, eh.  Feel free to comment.  Have fun!

The Hall of Fame Welcomes TWO Former Tribers!

Domo Arigato, Mister Roberto!  I knew that Styx song was ahead of its time!  Oh, wait. That's *not* the lyric!?  Well, I'm going with it anyway!

Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven have both been inducted to the baseball Hall of Fame today!  Wahoo for Tribe fans everywhere!

Knock, Knock

UPDATE (12/06/10) - Thanks to those of you that pointed me in the right direction! I had my dates messed up, and the voting results for Bert (and Roberto Alomar for that matter, among others) will take place in January. Consider this something of a Christmas Wish post.. :-)

The big announcement comes today (er, in January, actually).  Who will (and who won't)  make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  How do you NOT put Bert Blyleven in there?  He's only got this year and next to be included.  It's been a long time coming.

I first heard of him when he came to Pittsburgh.  As a kid in the 'Burgh in the 70's and 80's, it was really the only way for me to have heard of him.  He helped the Bucs take the World Series in the era when Pittsburgh was "the City of Champions."  And then, he moved over to Cleveland.  In 1985, he added another All-Star game to his resume'.  Another? You ask.  Why yes.  You see, before coming to Pittsburgh, he had been an All-Star in '73.  In fact, in his 22-year career, he was on three All-Star teams and made two World Series appearances.

Let's talk about his career.  He finished with a 3.21 overall ERA.  He won 287 games. He pitched 4,790 innings.  He struck out 3,701 batters.  How about 60 shut outs?

He came close to being selected last year, and I hope this year pushes him over the top.

Oh, I know, he's got more than a few, er, issues, that could keep him out.  He flipped off the camera back in his 'Burgh days and he was caught cussing live on air when he thought they were taping.  But, really, what's a Hall of Fame player without a bit of "color?" 

I say, "Circle Him!"

Lofton Induction Ceremony Tonight

Former Indians Superstar Kenny Lofton will be inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall-of-Fame at tonight's game.  The bobblehead above will be given out to attendees.  Lofton os one of the most beloved Tribers to wear a Wahoo.  Lofton came to the MLB in 1991 wearing an Astros uniform, but the next year was put in a Tribe uni where he spent then next five seasons before making a brief appearance with the Braves for one season.  After that, he came back to the Indians for four more seasons.  As with many Tribers, he bounced around the MLB with varioud other teams throughout his career.  Luckily for Indians fans, he finished out his career in 2007 with a return to greatness, giving the young ballplayers a clinic on batting, stealing, and being a "professional" on the field.

Lofton was a six-time All-star and served on the 1995 World Series team.

I believe he will find himself in the Baseball Hall of  Fame in the coming years for sure!  After all, he has an overall career batting average of  .299, 130 home runs, 781 RBIs, and a killer defensive glove.  Oh yeah, he also managed to steal 622 bases (netting a whopping 79.5% success rate) while he was at it.

Sandy Alomar, Jr is IN THE TRIBE!

Sandy Alomar, Jr. was elected to the Indians Hall of Fame over the weekend! During a time when Indians fans are upset and angry over losing their latest star catcher, Alomar reminds fans of the reason we love this team. Alomar did not have the greatest stats in the world by any stretch, but his election was based much more on his heart and love for the team as much as anything else.

Congratulations, Mr. Alomar! Bill Veeck and Richard Jacobs will also be inducted into the Indians HOF for their ownership foresight (Veeck brought Larry Doby, the first African-American player in the American League; and Dick Jacobs brought The Jake and renewed hope to the mistake by the lake).

Full story is HERE.

We now return you to our scheduled Group Break (below):